In 2010, local capital networks were named one of BusinessWeek’s big ideas for small business and entrepreneurship. People want to do more than just buy local - now they want to invest local too.

Moving money from Wall Street to Main Street and facilitating the flow of capital from regional people to regional businesses meeting regional needs is a critical next step in the evolution toward more sustainable local economies.

Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), North America’s fastest growing network of socially responsible businesses, is leading the charge with a monthly Community Capital webinar series. In Calgary we are convening community partners to participate in the webinars and learn what is going on across the continent. Then we'll discuss how community capital strategies are relevant here and identify opportunities to help this concept take root.

Who should join us? Credit unions, innovative bankers, slow money investors, foundations, economic authorities, entrepreneurs, local businesses and anyone else interested in unleashing the flow of capital to support a greener local economy.